Honouring the devotees

Worshippable Vaiṣṇavas, respected  gentlemen, ladies and beloved children. Again I am present in front of you all by the grace of Lord Kṛṣṇa. I do not know before me what told Śrīpad Jagannath Ballabha Prabhu about me, I cannot understand the language. Actually I am blind to what he is telling, but I know, must be there some glorification.

In the Scripture we can see these three things; kanak, kāminī and pratiṣṭhā. Kanak means all the wealth and wealth’s goddess is Lakṣmī Devī. So all wealth will be offered to Nārāyaṇ. And all the ladies and girls will be offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa. And all the name and fame must be offered to Śrī Gurudeva.

This three if we can use properly  then we not will be bonded by that kanak, kāminī and pratiṣṭhā. Then first I wants to offer all the pratiṣṭhā all the fame to my Gurudeva, Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj. Whose Divine Mercy make me as a preacher of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness and given me as position as servitor.

I am going country to country for the service of my Divine Master, Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī, because he want I must preach Kṛṣṇa Consciousness and that way he try to make me as his instrument. I must say, I must confess that I was not a good boy and not a good person. I joined his lotus feet when I was seventeen years old. You can say in English tradition as a teenager. And village boy, no quality, no qualification but what have seen my Guru Mahārāj within me I do not know. He think this boy will be devotee in future and can preach Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.

At present I have some realisation, why Guru Mahārāj have chosen me, one quality I have seen through my realisation – I was simple-hearted. Do not know any diplomacy and very straight I am proceeding with courage.

Also it was my saṁskār, “yad bibheti svayaṁ bhayam,” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.14). If I shall take shelter the God, God must save me. Maybe that was a good quality little. And everything was very bad. But now I shall say I become gradually a good boy.

Using word this ‘boy’ because I am always thinking I am protected by Guru Mahārāj who is my like father, like Master, like everything. And it is truth never I feel in front of Guru Mj I am a man.

Also it is truth Guru Mahārāj wants me to go forward but I am going forward everywhere but not in front of Guru Mahārāj I can give a lecture properly, always fearful. Anything I shall tell any wrong he will get pain that was very fearful for me. This period gone up to 12 to 15 years when I was with Guru Mahārāj . After that fear gone and I can give lecture in front of Guru Mahārāj fearlessly. Then now I am very much conscious about my duty, why Guru Mahārāj spend his energy for me? I am very much conscious for that. Then I am trying to serve His Divine Grace as his desire, I can preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world,that was his heart-felt desire. What he expected from me I am trying to fulfil that and I surprised, previous all arrangement he make for me otherwise I shall not get a good friend like Śrīpad Sudhir Goswāmī, Śrīpad Āśram Mahārāj, Śrīpad Giri Mahārāj, Śrīpad Janārdan Mahārāj and many of the sannyāsīs, brahmachārīs, gṛhasthas and so many lady devotees. All is very affectionate Guru Mahārāj make this environment for my preaching.

And supremely what I have got about preaching in this Western world that is mercy of Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāj. That Prabhupad you know after coming in this Western world but Guru Mahārāj given my hand to Prabhupad, “You teach this boy Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā. You know the relationship with Śrīla Guru Mahārāj and Śrīla Prabhupad. One book first published Śrīpad Sudhir Goswāmī Mahārāj the Guardian of Devotion, there very clearly given, very very clear relation with Śrīla Guru Mahārāj and Śrīla Prabhupad. If you love – love my dog. This is very famous phrase. Then Prabhupad given his much love and affection to me because I was servant of Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj. Actually he considered me as a good character dog of Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj. Maybe I have some Pedigree. Śrīla Prabhupad said my relation with Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj is very intimate. It is taped and that tape with us. By the grace of Sudhir Goswāmī Mahārāj  we read it and very happy. Why I am telling this story, because we no-one can enter into this world into this atheistic world you can say. But by grace of Prabhupad happily we entered America, England, Germany, last Russia. Because by the wills of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu and Kṛṣṇa and by good wishes, affection of Śrīla Guru Mahārāj, Śrīla Prabhupad come alone proceeded through America alone. One year too much austerity he have got. After that door was open for his preaching.

Through his Divine weapon the egoistic world and make very high road for us to enter into every country. Really he make subjective evolution to every country, America, Venezuala, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Japan everywhere where he went he blasted the ego and putted there seed of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. And today it is so widely spreaded  in this material world.

It was famous phrase in our society, every captain, general when going for preaching, he is preaching so much and coming back to Śrīdhar Mahārāj and reporting him their preaching. Śrīla Bhakti Sāraṅga Goswāmī Mahārāj, Śrīpad Madhusūdan Mahārāj, Śrīpad Mādhava Mahārāj, Śrīpad Paramahaṁsa Mahārāj and so many sannyāsī and brahmacharī, time-to-time their coming to see Śrīla Guru Mahārāj and reporting their preaching result. Śrīla Prabhupad also every time when he is going back to India, first going to Śrīla Guru Mahārāj and giving his preaching report and time-to-time also he is sending letter to Śrīla Guru Mahārāj, to me, about his preaching progress. That’s also not was sufficient for Śrīla Prabhupad. For that Prabhupad telling to me, “Oh Govinda Mahārāj you come with me and you will see which way I am preaching and you will give report to Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj, he will be more happy.”

But Śrīla Guru Mahārāj’s health not was showing good. For that I cannot come with His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupad. But by their grace, grace of Śrīla Guru Mahārāj, their desire fulfilled something by me and for that I am very happy. I enter into the Western world and everywhere I am getting more than Śrīla Prabhupad the reception from the group of the devotees.

When ’92 I went to Hawaii, first before that Prabhupad’s letter. Prabhupad wrote me, “Govinda Mahārāj, you cannot believe which way they are receiving me – tears, with tearful eyes and rose flowers, full of rose flowers in the ground if you will see you will be surprised which way they are receiving me.

In Bengali he wrote me, “choker chole golāp phuler, ei dharane reception tumi kokhona chintā korte pāro nā!” My English is not clear but Prabhupad’s Bengali is very clear.  But when I went that Hawaii, I have got more than Prabhupad, one big pyramid happened with tears and flowers.

Then by the grace of Śrīla Guru Mahārāj and Śrīla Prabhupad I am present with you what they teach you many knows their teachings, because you read the many books, what published by ISKCON what published by our society, but quality character of the devotees what kind will be necessary to be concerned about that consciousness. That was the preaching of Śrīla Guru Mahārāj and Śrīla Prabhupad.

Guru Mahārāj one day told one story, Goddess Pārvatī Devī asking one question to Lord Śiva, “Who is the Supreme worshippable, please tell me.” Lord Śiva he is the supreme Vaiṣṇava. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam said, “vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ…” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.13.16). Then his answer as pure he given to Goddess Pārvatī, “ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ, viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param…” (Padma Purāṇa)

No doubt it is Supreme worshippable God is Viṣṇu, Lord Kṛṣṇa. Then Lord Śiva looking the face of goddess Pārvatī and Pārvatī’s face not was so happy and thinking Goddess Pārvatī thinking Viṣṇu is the Supreme no doubt worshippable, but I am worshipping my Lord, Lord Śaṅkar Śiva. I have no separate arrangement and I am worshipping him. Then Lord Śiva next line express but, “tasmāt parataraṁ devi, tadīyānāṁ samarchanam.”

ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ
viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param
tasmāt parataraṁ devi
tadīyānāṁ samarchanam

Who will worship the Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotee he is the highest worshipper, devotee of Kṛṣṇa devotee of Viṣṇu they’re most worshippable, more worshippable than their God, Kṛṣṇa.

ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ
viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param
tasmāt parataraṁ devi
tadīyānāṁ samarchanam

Tadīyānāṁ means who is the devotee of Viṣṇu, who is the devotee of Kṛṣṇa he is worship. Then Pārvatī Devī was very happy and  she was smiled and Lord Śiva also smiled because Pārvatī Devī knows I am worshipping Lord Śiva and Śiva is the Supreme Vaiṣṇava who is worshipping Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord Rāmachandra, Lord Viṣṇu is same, Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu, Rāma is same.

Then here must be noticable we are worshipper, we are trying to satisfy Lord Kṛṣṇa but which way it will be possible – through his devotee. It will be very easiest process for satisfaction of our Lord.

bhagavad-bhaktitaḥsarvam,
ity utsṛjya vidher api
kaiṅkaryaṁkṛṣṇa-pādaikā-,
śrayatvaṁśaraṇāgatiḥ
(Śrī Śrī Prapanna-jīvanāmṛtam 1.35)

Who is fully surrendered to Lord Kṛṣṇa and worshipping Lord Kṛṣṇa leaving everything their activity he is the best worshipper for junior sincere seekers.

This is the Scriptures advice. If you wants to satisfy Lord you will try to satisfy his devotee. But we must try to be devotee and fully surrendered to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise not will be devotee. Devotion is bhakti and bhakti-latā-bīja Gurudeva given to us. And we planted that bhakti-latā-bīja. If we make any offence to the Vaiṣṇava it will be destroyed.  Then we must be careful not to make any offence to Vaiṣṇava.

We are not getting proper result of chanting and there is ten kinds of offences that is the cause. When clean way we will to serve the Harinām. Harinām will be much merciful to us but we must will attract the Divine form of Lord. That Harinām through our service and that service will go service to the devotee. This way.

Śrīman Mahāprabhu said,
tṛṇād api sunīchena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
(Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam 3)

That meanings is this. If you are humble and tolerant and give honour to everyone, Vaiṣṇava automatically will get the honour from you. Then it is my earnest request to you all my friends and I have right to say something please be merciful to yourself give honour to others. Then whole world will be your friend and all the worshipper of God will be merciful to you. This process told Mahāprabhu Chaitanyadeva and ten kinds of offence express that more widely. And always think what I shall do, not will give pain to the Vaiṣṇavas.

You are all together doing some practice Kṛṣṇa Consciousness it will reveal in your heart I am sure. Where is love, affection, beauty, charm, ecstasy and eternity. That Divine Name pushing your door, open your door and receive that Divine Name in your heart.

Here is few days gone some Harinām-saṅkīrttan with you all everyone have got some new light and again and again it will be possible in the future I believe it. I shall be in this world or not that is not a question. But here you have so many friends so many Vaiṣṇava, diginitary Vaiṣṇava. From India, from America from different countries. They will come again and again and you are also so qualified. I have seen the face of the Russian devotees the Russian people, very simple-hearted but very strong. Then you can proceed without fear happily to your destination service to the Lord.

The Scriptures said many things but this is very appropriate for this age
harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā
(Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa)

No other alternative in this age of Kali without the Divine Name of the Lord what is the transcendental vibration form of God. It is a system of all religion they are chanting the holy name of God of holy name of Allah, or holy name of Kṛṣṇa this way then here is no doubt chanting the holy name this is the best process.

Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa without offence, be merciful to everyone, careful for your spiritual life and proceed on to your destination – this is my prayer to you all.

Because I am related with you all and I have some right to pray for Kṛṣṇa for you give me that chance to pray. Śrīla Guru Mahārāj, Śrīla Prabhupad, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswatī Ṭhākura and Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī, Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī, etc, they are always very kind to the Western world.

I have not seen like this mood of devotion where I am going and seeing the mood of devotion and I surprised to see that why I am not like you. You are getting benefit will get benefit I am also getting benefit with association of you all. It is not material anything relation with you and us. This connection is spiritual connection and spiritually we can feel it when we make ourselves clean it is very well we can feel.

Kṛṣṇa bless you.
Jaya Oṁ Viṣṇupād Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj ki jay!